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The group of consumer products Reckitt Benckiser has published a net increase of 23% for the second quarter, above expectations and maintained its objectives.

The British, who announced last week its intention to purchase for 2.54 billion pounds his compatriot SSL, the makers of Scholl sandals and Durex condoms, had a net profit of 380 million pounds (455 million euros ).

Analysts surveyed by I / B / E / S expected the 363.4 million.Reckitt had said 365 million anticipated.

Reckitt said that if its takeover offer for SSL to succeed, he thought he could close the deal in the fourth quarter.

The proposed interim dividend up 16% to 50 pence.

The group said its performance was led by strong growth in developing markets and the success of new products

For the year, Reckitt, known for its detergent brands Cillit Bang and analgesic Nurofen, still expects revenues up 5% and operating profit up 10% on a comparable basis, c that is to say, at constant exchange rates and without regard to its subsidiary, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals.

The main drug of this subsidiary is the Suboxone treatment against addiction to heroin, which has lost its exclusive license last October. Reckitt had said at the time that the profit of this product in the United States could decline by 80% with the introduction of generic competitors.

The euro briefly cut its losses against the dollar on Friday but has subsequently resumed its downward trend, while seven out of 91 European banks have failed this test of strength which they were submitted.

The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) announced that five Spanish banks (Civica Cajasur, Unnim, and Espiga Diada), a Greek bank (Atebank) and Germany's Hypo Real Estate had not been able to maintain a ratio of Tier 1 financial stability of at least 6% in the worst case scenario used.

After an increase to 1.29 per dollar, the euro fell to 1.2845 dollars (-0.43%) to 4:25 p.m. GMT.

Last month fears about the debt crisis of the euro area and its effects on banks in the region had led the euro to its lowest level since 2006 at least $ 1.19. Since the European currency has recovered to slightly above the threshold of $ 1.30 earlier in the week.

Alstom reported a sharp drop in orders received during the first quarter of the year, major projects that are difficult to find in the electrical field, but its sales came out slightly beyond expectations over the period.

The specialist in energy infrastructure and transportation have made the April-June quarter sales of 4.74 billion euros, down 1% from one year to another as reported and down 5 % as organic.

The nine analysts polled by Reuters expected the drafting of an average AC4.67 billion.

"The turnover (the division) Transportation progresses, while the (Energy Division) Power began, as expected, lower following a sharp drop in orders during the last year," said CEO of Alstom, Patrick Kron, in a statement.

If he observes a good place new orders for medium and small sizes on the three "major projects are difficult to reach because (…) customers continue to shift their investments in new power stations," Has added.

Orders received by Alstom have dropped by 36% to 3.07 billion euros in the first quarter on a reported basis and 38% as organic.

The group added that its backlog was still unchanged at 42 billion euros at June 30, thanks to a positive currency effect of 1.3 billion euros and represented 27 months of turnover business.

It also confirmed its forecast for an operating margin of between 7 and 8% for the year 2010/2011 and the next one, "based on a performance contract and a gradual recovery in demand. "

The action Alstom closed Monday at 36.85 euros, giving a market capitalization of nearly 11 billion euros. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has lost about 25% of its value, after a gain of nearly 17% throughout 2009.

The Paris Bourse falls even slightly up in early trading Wednesday, after six sessions of consecutive increase, buoyed by better than expected results from Intel in a market trough for a public holiday.

The better than expected start to the season results should stimulate the market this morning, pending the release of retail sales in June in the United States at 14:30.

Around 9:25, the CAC 40 index posted a gain of 0.21% to 3645.29 points, after taking 1.96% yesterday.

Technology stocks are leading the gains, including the semiconductor sector, with a gain of 2.9% from STMicroelectronics, the largest increase in ACC, and 5.2% of Soitec, the largest increase DTH.

Computer services such as Cap Gemini (+2.3%), Steria (+1.7%) and Altran (+1.4%) also benefit from the optimism that followed the results of Intel, and that Alcatel-Lucent, which is 1.6%.

Other major European markets are slightly higher: 0.16% ahead of London and Frankfurt 0.5%. As for the European indices, the EuroStoxx 50 wins 0.3% and 0.23% Eurofirst 300.

The euro is maintained around 1.27 dollars while U.S. light crude was steady at 77.13 dollars a barrel.

Boeing said Friday it has formally responded to the call for tenders for tanker aircraft, the U.S. Air Force.

The aircraft proposed by Boeing is to replace 179 KC-135 U.S. Air Force Eisenhower era.

The Boeing said to have the ability to produce at a rate of production will be required.

The European EADS has submitted his proposal on Thursday.

The main indices of world stock markets should end the year at a level higher than that which is theirs now, but fears of slowing economic recovery could limit their gains in some developed countries, shows a Reuters poll.

Contrary to the previous Reuters poll predicted, most financial markets should finish the first half down.

According to the median estimates of over 300 policy makers, the second half of the year should be more favorable, while the 12-month forecasts show that places emerging markets are expected to record growing faster than that generated on Scholarships developed countries.

However, investors surveyed expect a slowdown in economic activity in coming months because of the debt crisis of the euro area that has weighed on markets in the second quarter, which remains unresolved, and austerity measures in many countries belonging to the 20 largest economies (G20).

"The risks of a crisis within the euro area remains high," warns Philip Gijsels addition of BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets."The global economy will slow in the second half, the big question is how much."

STRENGTH OF QUARTERLY RESULTS AND RATE DOWN

However, investors believe that most world stock markets should finish the year on strong gains compared to their levels of late last year.

The Dow Jones U.S. Index and S & P 500 are expected to register increases of 11.7% and 12.6% by the end of the year, while that on June 23 they had lost 1.24% and 2 , 07% since the beginning of 2010.

In France, the CAC 40 should finish the year at 4,000 points, 3,939 points against the end of last year and 3642 points at the close Wednesday.

The quarterly results ahead of listed companies in Europe and the U.S. should be the key to recovery of markets in the second half of the year, said the investors interviewed for the survey.

Expectations of continued very low levels of interest rates by major central banks on the international balance of the year accentuate investor optimism about changing exchanges.

In this case, the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England (BoE) should not increase their rates until 2011, while the Federal Reserve said it would maintain its rates at a record low for a prolonged period.

EMERGING MARKETS POSSESSING THE LIGHT

The financial centers of the largest emerging markets like Brazil, China and Russia, have experienced a turbulent start to the year, like the Shanghai Stock Exchange has lost 21.7% of its value since January .

However, strategists expect that the situation improved and anticipate an erase losses earlier this year on the second half of the year.

Investors are even predicting that emerging markets perform better than the developed countries within the first half of 2011.

The benchmark Hang Seng Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the Russian RTS and the Brazilian Bovespa should also earn more than 20% over the next twelve months, while the BSE Sensex index India could win over 18% the same time.

"The market remains very liquid, and the rates are at historically low," said Francis Kwok Bright Smart Group.

Emerging markets are not expected to be the only ones to show a strong performance by the end of the first half of 2011, as the Australian index flagship A & P / ASX 200 and that of the Milan Stock Exchange should jump 22.8% respectively and 18.1% YoY.

"There is always a cloud associated with sovereign debt problems of Europe, which is still in my view, a significant risk to the future in terms of confidence," warns George Clapham Arnhem Investment Management.

"But in terms of recovery, at present, the market is very, very attractive," he adds.

GDF Suez has asked the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) for permission to increase gas prices by 5% from 1 July, reported Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France.

If the CRE provides a favorable opinion, the bill of 10.8 million gas users in France have risen a total of 15% next winter by counting up 10% already taken place in April, the newspaper .

No comment could be obtained immediately from GDF Suez.

The National Assembly passed the night of Monday to Tuesday, the French plan for emergency aid to Greece, 16.8 billion euros in bilateral loans over three years, of which 3.9 billion in 2010, A total of 110 billion announced Sunday by the EU and the IMF. Unusually, the UMP and the Socialist Party voted together for the loan at 5% for the financial rescue of Greece. Only members PCF and the Left Party, and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (Arise the Republic, former UMP), voted against.

The bill amending finance (Budget Act) was passed by show of hands without amendment, after an evening of discussion. The text is now starting a shuttle to the Senate for final approval, probably Thursday. France, like other European countries and the IMF, must move fast to fight against market speculation on the Greek debt.It also requires Greece to honor the time for repayment of its debt on May 19 The contribution of France represents 20.7% using the EU (80 billion euros, plus 30 of the IMF, ie 110 in total). This contribution has been multiplied almost by three this weekend at the meeting of economic ministers of the euro area.

In his speech to the Assembly, the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde said she would be "extremely vigilant" about the implementation of austerity measures taken by the Greek government in return for the aid plan concluded Sunday Brussels (deletion of the thirteenth and fourteenth month in the civil service, VAT increase, decrease in the departure of the retirement age …). "It is not a gift or grant. It lends at a rate of about 5% fixed rate," said the minister.

Read also: aid to Greece, the best deal from lenders

"To discourage speculators"

Unsurprisingly, the UMP has fully supported the government: "It is a plan whose scope will help deter speculators," said the spokesman for the UMP for the Budget, Jerome Chen, welcoming the first major policy decision of the euro area ".

Even more rare, the Socialist Party (PS) also voted with the government and his majority: "I do not support the government, I support Greece and I support the euro. We're not there in a left-right debate We're here in a European debate and policy debate, "said the former first secretary of the PS, François Hollande.

The spokesman Benoit Hamon PS, which is not a member, however, said that his party voted "aid to Greece but not the austerity plan" imposed on the Greeks.PS The President of the Committee on Finance, Jerome Cahuzac, and other elected officials have also asked for a rate of 5% too high for them: "We made a little profit on the backs of the misery of a people "(Christian Eckert, PS).

Facing the CPF and twenty deputies Left Front voted against the plan, "because it comes with creditors who have put Greece in a terrible situation by extending loans at high rates ( Jean-Pierre Brard).

On the right, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (Arise the Republic, former UMP) also voted "against the false rescue plan that has any plan to scuttle". He believed that the austerity imposed on Greece would "kill" save this country without the euro, calling for the release of the single currency Athens.

Flights arriving and departing from Ireland were canceled between 1200 GMT 6:00 ET Tuesday, May 4, due to the arrival of a cloud of volcanic ash dense, particularly from Iceland said on Monday the Civil Aviation Authority of Ireland (AAI). The British aviation officials have also decided Monday to shut down part of the Scottish airspace, a measure that should be extended on Tuesday in Northern Ireland.

The decision to cancel flights "is based on the risk to passengers and crew adrift south of the ash cloud caused by northeast winds," said the Authority. Civil protection in Reykjavik Iceland, contacted by AFP said they had observed no change in the activity of the volcano which is still Eyjafjöll eruption.It only spits ash and small quantities, "she said.

In contrast, France does not expect to close its airports, said Tuesday Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister of Sustainable Development and Transport. "There are no plans to close in France, nor do I believe in the whole of Western Europe, the current state of the weather. There is no fear to have," assured the minister on France Inter.

The cloud of ash has cost 1.26 billion euros

About the management of air transport at the height of the crisis in April, the minister said the authorities had acted on behalf of the "safety of passengers, not on behalf of the precautionary principle. "We did not use the precautionary principle but simply dangerous to the safety of passengers. This was done with great caution," he said. "If it happens again, we now have the means of analysis.We now know a little better understanding of this type of situation, "he added.

For Chantal Jouanno, Secretary of State for Ecology, airports could be closed "if necessary. But it is too early to tell." "It depends on the concentration of particles in clouds," she said on LCI: "On the last episode, what we have seen, contrary to what the experts told us at the outset, namely that no reactor could not go through this type of cloud, in reality, if there is a level of tolerance. "

The paralysis in air traffic in Europe following the eruption of the volcano, which lasted nearly a week in April, caused a loss of 1.26 billion euros for the airlines, according to Association International Air Transport Association (IATA), and caused chaos on transport on the European continent.More than 100,000 flights have been canceled and then over eight million passengers were stranded.